The Department of Health – Abu Dhabi (DoH), the regulator of the healthcare sector in the Emirate, alongside AstraZeneca and PureHealth have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to activate a Rare Diseases Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi.
The centre will serve as a flagship hub for diagnosis, treatment, follow-ups, research, education and patient care, with a particular focus on rare metabolic, nephrological, and hematologic disorders.
By bringing together clinicians, researchers, and ecosystem partners, the centre aims to set a new benchmark for rare disease care across the region. While addressing the socio-economic burden these conditions place on healthcare systems, communities, and families, the Centre serves as a tangible example of Abu Dhabi’s intelligent life sciences model in action, accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into real-world patient outcomes.
The agreement builds directly on the MoU signed by DoH and AstraZeneca at BIO 2024 to establish a Rare Diseases Centre of Excellence in Abu Dhabi – a partnership designed to leverage the Emirate’s advanced healthcare infrastructure, including the Emirati Genome Programme, and AstraZeneca's global expertise in rare disease management. This tripartite agreement advances that commitment, welcoming PureHealth as a partner to operationalise the centre.
Under the MoU, DoH, PureHealth and AstraZeneca will collaborate across the following pillars: the activation of the centre as a hub for rare disease care; an integrated model of diagnosis, treatment and lifelong care; equitable and uninterrupted patient access to specialised services; the advancement of research, clinical trials and real-world evidence generation; education, training and capability building to strengthen local clinical expertise; and a joint governance framework to oversee delivery and ensure accountability throughout the collaboration.
